DHS, Social Networks and Emergency AwarenessJanuary 2012: (Hat tip to PolicyMic. A recent report out from Reuters outlined the current ongoing program at the Department of Homeland Security to monitor social networks with the intention of collecting "information used in providing situational awareness and establishing a common operating picture". The networks include Twitter, Facebook, Hulu, Wikileaks as well as sites like Drudge Report, Huffington Post and others.

LTE and emergency responseJanuary 2012: Last Year, Broadcast Engineering reported that the FCC had "approved a proposal that will require LTE technology to be used for public safety mobile broadband networks used by first responders." The technology, commonly called 4G, is now being tested by emergency responders, technology companies and other groups for its interoperability capabilities. In Florida, for instance, Verizon Wireless has rolled out a $205 million 4G LTE wireless network in 14 markets.

Promoting Local Low Powered Community RadioJanuary 2012: Almost one year ago exactly, the Obama administration signed into law the "Local Community Radio Act" which allowed smaller community radio stations the ability to broadcast to their communities. At the forefront of the push to give greater radio access to communities is the Prometheus Radio Project. Their efforts help to create local communities of radio broadcasters which could help to disseminate information quickly in the event of a disaster.

Infrastructure, Climate Change and the Economy: Part 1 - Infrastructure InvestmentFebruary 11, 2011: Investment in infrastructure to meet the challenges posed by global climate change may spur economic growth and promote stability, a group of British engineering firms said recently. According to the BBC a new report found that communities will need "an infrastructure system that is more resilient to climate change. This will require Government, the public and private sectors and professional sectors such as engineers to come together and proactively meet the challenge of creating a climate resilient infrastructure system for the country."

Infrastructure, Climate Change and the Economy: Part 3 - Measuring GDP vs GPIFebruary 11, 2011: Early last year, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley announced new plans for a state-run program which helps policy makers and citizens accurately measure Maryland's standard of living. The Genuine Progress Indicator, an online tool, uses the health of the environment and society as indicators with traditional economic calculations to find an overall grade. "Just as the elements of our natural world must be balanced to ensure a healthy ecosystem," O'Mally said, "so too must be the elements of how we judge our success as a State. A strong economy, a clean environment and a healthy citizenry go hand in hand; none can be a true measure of success without supporting the other two."

Response to historic flooding in AustraliaJanuary 2011: Australian government authorities are working overtime to try and help the communities of Queensland in the midst of epic flooding, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. More than 9,000 homes in Brisbane, the country's third largest city, are expected to be impacted by flood waters, while the city's downtown central business center cut it's electricity, the BBC reported.

Looking Back - Report: taking advantage of the private sector to safeguard the publicJanuary 2011: Since the attacks of September 11, 2001 the public and private sectors have been working together to find new ways of securing the country's critical infrastructure through federal action like the Homeland Security Act and the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD-7). There have been other - private sector-driven steps taken as well, but it is with the cooperation of the federal government that industry can improve optimally on its preparedness, resiliency and response operations.

In Memoriam: John Solomon 1963 - 2010We were very saddened by the passing of our friend John Solomon last November. John was a friend and a great resource for inspiration through his blog In Case of Emergency, Read Blog. Throughout the years, his work provided the germination of many of the stories that I have used to work on community preparedness and resilience in the face of natural and man-made disasters. I also will remember warmly our wonderful and productive email exchanges. His stories and blog posts proved insightful and I will remember him fondly. Below are a few examples of the helpful work of John's we used to write about how our country is working toward sustainability, resiliency and preparedness during an emergency or crisis. John's obituary can be read here. Thanks John, we'll miss you.

Arizona citizens quick to respond in Tucson shootingJanuary 2011: When Jared Lee Loughner opened fire killing six people during a Congressional meet and greet in Tucson on January 8 , citizens present at the gathering were instrumental in tackling and disarming the gunman thus preventing any more casualties. According to the Arizona Republic, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik identified the three men and one woman as Patricia Maisch, Roger Salzgeber, Bill Badger and Joseph Zamudio. The official timeline of the response said the first 911 call was received at 10:11:56 a.m. "Within one minute of the first deputy's arrival, the suspect was in custody and medical personnel began treating the injured," the Pima County Sheriff's Department said in a press release.

Please complete the registration form below. On-site registration at the college begins at noon on July 20th. Directions to the college can be found at Walsh College , which is located in the western metropolitan area of Detroit.

A number of local and regional partners will participate in this meeting to help develop select portions of the National Blueprint for Secure Communities. Walsh College and the Kennedy School of Government help will conduct the strategy meetings on the 20th and a working session on the morning of the 21st. Participants in the strategy sessions will earn CE credits from Walsh College. Governor James Gilmore will lead a general session and press briefing beginning at 1:00 pm on July 21st. Click here for a list of hotelsfor Novi. A schedule of the event can be downloaded by Clicking here...

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NCORP Update

NCORP and the Kennedy School of Government Collaborate on the National Blueprint for Secure CommunitiesWorking in partnership with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the ReadyCommunities Partnership is reaching out to first responders, local officials, the private sector and citizens throughout the nation to develop the National Blueprint for Secure Communities. The Blueprint will be the focus of the first National Congress for Secure Communities in November and serve as a roadmap for any community striving for resiliency during the first hours of a national or large-scale crisis. Click Here to read more...

National Press Club Briefing on National Blueprint June 20thIn partnership with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and it's non-profit, government and corporate partners, NCORP is reaching out to first responders, local officials, the private sector and citizens throughout the nation to develop a National Blueprint for Secure Communities. The Blueprint is a project under the ReadyAmerica Initiative, and was the focus of the National Press Club briefingat 11:30 a.m. on June 20, 2006. The Blueprint will serve as a roadmap for any community working to reach a level of excellence in their preparedness.

Preliminary Report from Midwest Summit

The Midwest Summit Police Chiefs Association met May 3rd and 4th in LaCrosse, Wisconsin to develop public/private partnerships that augment and multiply community preparedness, response and recovery capabilities. NCORP joined the Summit to incorporate the output of the May 3rd Summit sessions into the National Blueprint for Secure Communities. Click Hereto download the draft draft preliminary report of the Summit.

Homeland Security Journal coverageNCORP and the Kennedy School of Government convened a meeting in March with leaders in government, industry, response and community sectors to help develop the format for a national template for community response. Homeland Security Journal attended the meeting and has prepared a cover story for their April printed issue. Click hereto visit the homepage, and read the cover story "ReadyAmerica - the First 72 Hours"...

Speech at the Harvard ForumGovernor Jim Gilmore, Chairman of NCORP, addressed the joint Harvard/NCORP homeland security conference on March 31 in the Harvard Forum. The text of the speech can be download by clicking here, or viewed online through the Kennedy School of Government website by clicking here...

The First 72 Hours Meeting AgendaAdvisory Committee members and critical sector experts met at the Kennedy School of Government to develop a national template to help communities harness the assets and resources of the private sector, community organizations and citizens to augment and multiply their preparedness, response and recovery capabilities. Please click here to download a copy of the agenda...

ReadyAmerica: The First 72 Hours

The National Task Force and the Advisory Committee are developing a national template to help communities prepare and respond to crisis. NCORP has developed 5 policy initiatives that augment local response and help multiply preparedness and response capabilities. These policy initiatives will help form part of the template, and will be developed more completely through regional meetings...click here to download the summary

Photographs of the November 16th Meeting

During the Advisory Committee meeting, photographer Robert L. Knudson recorded many of the attendees and discussions in still photographs, which can be purchased directly from him through the professional service website PhotoReflect.com. Please visit the site to view over 400 photographs... visit photographs link>>

Draft Transcript of Preparedness Congress

December 15: Over 600 mayors, police and fire chiefs, EMS directors, health care representatives, corporate and association representatives and community leadership met in Washington for the formation meeting of the Advisory Committeeto the National Task Force on Community Preparedness and Response. The draft transcript of the introduction and general sessions has been made available for review by the participants, to correct and use as the basis for the regional meetings for 2006...read or download the transcript>>

Richmond Times-DispatchPartnerships Offer Opportunities for Domestic Preparedness...On September 11, 2001, I was Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. On the morning of the terroist attack at the World Trade Center, I was in the Executive Mansion on Capitol Square in Richmond...read more or download>>

August 10, 2006...Code Red for international flights to the U.S. originating in the UK: Code Orange for commerical U.S. domestic flights; Code Yellow for the U.S.

July 7, 2005...Code Orange for metropolitan transportation and rail systems

January 18, 2005...Code Yellow is in effect

Why Your Membership in ReadyCorps Will Help Strengthen Homeland Security

September 11, 2001 has not only changed the way communities view their preparation and response to crisis, but also redefined the role that citizens and corporations have in helping their communities prepare for and respond to threat and crisis. Though local, state and federal governments are responsible at one level or another, there just are not enough resources to protect all communities and property at all times, nor to respond equally or quickly. The threat and the country are too open and large.

ReadyCorps' Role

The National Council on Readiness and Preparedness has formed ReadyCorps to bring corporations together with communities, responders and governments to increase community surge capacity during incidents of mass casualty or destruction. ReadyCorps members will establish a corporate Crisis Response Officer (CRO) for each corporate facility, to serve as a contact point between responders and corporations to share information and assets, create preparedness response strategies and generally develop simple but effective ways to train and prepare employees for threat or crisis as resources to the responder sector during community response.